Shortage warnings follow PC100 demand

The UK indirect channel has warned that demand for PC100 synchronous DRam parts has affected supplies, raising the prospect of severe shortages.

The warning comes after reports from South Korea that demand for synchronous DRam is helping memory manufacturers recover from the glut that has affected the market worldwide (PC Dealer, 1 July).

Andrew Mackenzie, managing director of Dtec Memory, said the move to PC100 parts was fuelled by the introduction of Pentium II parts which use the 100MHz bus, as well as competitive pricing and the shipping of PCs with 64Mb of memory. He said: 'We're starting to see shortages come through the channel. LG Electronics and Hyundai are getting to the point where there may be allocations on the parts by the end of August.'

In South Korea, manufacture of 64Mb PC100 parts has increased sharply.

LG Semicon has boosted its output to 90 per cent of its 64Mb DRam production to meet overseas demand. It claims to produce more than six million synchronous DRam parts each month. Windows 98 will also have a small part to play in the increased demand. Samsung Semiconductor has also experienced a surge in demand for the parts and now produces more than four million PC100 chips a month. Hyundai was also expected to increase output.